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(No Model.) I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

C. N. WONSON & D. W. PALMER. CONVERTIBLE 0mm.

No. 520,284. Patented May 22, 1894.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. N. WONSON & D. W. PALMER. CONVERTIBLE CHAIR Patented May 22,1894.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets--Sheet 3.

0. N. WONSON'Kz D. W: PALMER.

CONVERTIBLE CHAIR.

No. 520,284. Patented May 22, 1894.

WITNESSES: 7 Q I TOR.- (m MW 43 2 an M J A TTORNEYS.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet '4.

G. N. WONSON & D. W. PALMER.

GONVERTIBLE CHAIR.

No. 52 Patented May 22, 1894.

m- WW UNITED STATES P TENT OFFICE.

CLARA NEWTON WONSON, OF GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, AND DENNIS WILSONPALMER, OF HERMON CENTRE, MAINE.

CONVERTIBLE CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 520,284, dated May 22,1894.

Application filed May 15, 1893. Serial No. 474,280. (No model.)

To a. whom it may concern: in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a detail sectionalview,

' Beitknown that we, CLARA NEWTON W'QN- showing how the chair arm coversare ar- SON, of Gloucester, in the county of Essex ranged and with thecover in place upon the and State of Massachusetts, and DENNIS WIL-chair arm. Fig. 11 is a similar view,but with 55 SON PALMER,Of HermonCentre, in the county the cover turned outward and downward, and ofPenobscot and State of Maine, have in- Fig. 12 is a detail sectionalview illustrating vented a new and Improved Convertible the centralarrangement of the sick chair Chair, of which the following is a full,clear, when the chair is upholstered. and exact description. The chairis shaped like an ordinary 60 to Our invention relates to improvementsin easy chair and is intended to be covered with household furniture;and the object of our suitable upholstering, but in the drawings itinvention is to produce an easy and commois shown bare, in order thatits construction dious chair, which may be used like an ordimay be moreclearly understood. It is pronary easy chair, and which may be quicklyvided with the usual arms ll which are united 65 r 5 and readilyconverted into very many other to the body of the chair, and the body isof useful articles of furniture such as a sick rectangular shape and hascasters 12 at the chair, writing-desk and other things to be lowercorners. hereinafter described. The chair is provided witha flat tableback To this end our invention consists of cer- 13 which is hinged tothe arms by means of 70 2o tain features of construction andcombinalinks 14, these being longitudinally slotted, tions of parts, aswill be hereinafter described as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig.8,and the and claimed. links are held upon bolts 15 and are adaptedReference is to be had to the accompanying to lie flat in recesses inthe top of the chair drawings, formingapartof this specification, arms,as shown clearly in Fig. 5. This ar- 75 2 5 in which similar figures ofreference indicate rangementenables the chair back to assumecorresponding parts in all the views. a perpendicular position so as toperform the Figure 1 is a perspective view of the chair function of anordinary chair back, or it may embodying our invention, showing themirbe swung upward and forward so as to lie rors in the back pulled outready for use. horizontally upon the chair arms; and the 80 Fig. 2 is aperspective view with one of the slots in the links permit the links toslide covers of the chair arms swung downward, downward upon the bolts15 so that the back with a side table ready for use, and with amayliefirmlyonthechairarms. Theshifting compartment in one side of thechair thrown ofthe back is facilitated by the anti-friction open. Fig. 3is a perspective view from the rollers 16 which are journaled in the topand 8 rear, showing the opposite side of the chair at the rear ends ofthe arms, as shown clearly to that illustrated in Fig. 2, and exhibitingin Fig. 5. In the top of the arms are recesses the drawers in the chairand showing also 17 and slots or grooves 18, the recesses servthearrangement for a writing desk. Fig. 4 ing to receive ink-wells andsponges, and the is a perspective view of the chair as arranged groovesto receive pencils, pen-holders, and 0 for a bed and showing the drawerspartially the like,these parts being adapted for usein open. Fig. 5 is aperspective view of the connection with a writing desk, as hereinafchairshowing the arrangement of the false ter described. The chair arms havealso on back which carries the mirrors when the chair their outer sidesand near the top pi goon-holes is to be converted into a table. Fig. 6is a 19 in which various articles may be inserted. 5 perspective view ofthe chair when converted The arms are normally covered by the swingintoa table. Fig. 7 is a similar view, but ing covers 20 which are groovedon the unwith the table top twisted or turned out so der side, as shownat 21,so as to lie snugly as to be supported upon the chair arm. Fig.upon the arm tops, and each arm 1s pivoted 8 is a longitudinal sectionon the line 8--8 in at its outer end to a bolt 22 which is hing d 10Fig. 4 with the chair in position to form a at its lower end, as shownat 23, and this arbed. Fig. 9 is a cross section on the line 9-9rangement enables the covers to be swung upward and then turnedlaterally downward on the bolts so as to hang in the positionillustrated in Fig. 5.

The chair back 13 is provided with a false back or mirror case 24 whichextends transversely across the front of the chair back 13, and when thechair back is in a perpendicular position the false back or mirror caseextends across the chair above the arms 11, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.In it are sliding mirrors 25 and 26 which may be pulled out from the topand sides respectively, as illustrated in Fig. 1, thus converting thechair into a dressing-case. The side mirrors 26 are preferably hinged sothat they may be turned at an angle to the mirror back 24 after theyhave been drawn out therefrom, as shown in Fig. 1. The mirror back 24 isfastened at its center, as shown in Fig.8, to abolt 27 and it isprovided with a transverse slot 27 adapted to slide on the bolt, asillustrated in the same figure. This arrangement enables the mirror caseor false back to be moved laterally and then turned on its axis so as toextend longitudinally across the back 13; that is, in a position atright angles to its former position, and when thus arranged it isadapted to swing between the arms Fig. 3, and it will not beconspicuous.

11 of the chair, as shown in Fig. 5,so that the back 13 may bereadilyswung to position upon the arms. The mirror back is held from slippingsidewise by buttons 28 on the edges of the back 13, and these buttonsalso overlap the table top 29 and prevent the latter from shifting. Thetable top is pivoted at its center, as shown at 29 in Fig. 8, to theback 13, and it is of the same size as the back so that when theartieleof furniture is used as a ehairthe table may lie against the chair back,as in The table top is provided with folding leaves 30, which closeflatwise against the top of the table, as shown in Fig. 3, and which maybe held in this position by any suitable fastening devices. \Vhen thetable top is in a horizontal position, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, theleaves are turned outward into a horizontal position, so as to increasethe size of the table.

When the chair is converted into a table, thefalse back or mirror case24 is arranged as shown in Fig. 5 and as previously described, and thetable top or back 13 is swung into a horizontal position with the backresting upon the chair arm, the leaves 30 are then turned outward anddownward, as shown in Fig. 6, and the table top is then twisted orturned slightly so that the leaves will rest upon the corners of thechair back 13 and be thus supported.

On one side of the chair opposite one of the arms 11 and forming theouter side of the arm, is a shelf 31, which is-jointed near one edge, asshown at 32, and is adapted to lie flatwise against the chair, as inFig. 4, or be swung upward, as shown in Fig. 9. It is provided with endtrunnions 33 which project from the ends near the lower edge of theshelf, and which are adapted to slide vertically in slideways 33, asshown in Fig. 3. The shelf, when in its normal position, has thetrunnions 33 at its lower edge and the upper edge is held in place by abutton 34. Behind the shelf and pivoted in the chair arm are brackets 35and 36, the former of which has its upper surface inclined downward, asshown at 37 in Fig. 9, so that when it is turned out to support theshelf 31 the outer portion of the shelf may incline, as shown in thesame figure, and thus form a convenient writing desk, or the bracket 35may be turned in and the bracket 36, which is square on top, may beturned out, in which case the shelf may be supported in a horizontalposition, as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 9, and it thus forms aconvenient side table which may be used by the occupant of the chair.

When the shelf 31 is to be turned outward, it is first raised so as tobring the trunnions 33 to the top of the slideways 33. Beneath the shelf31 and on the same side of the chair are outwardly swinging doors 38,one of which is provided with a poeket39 on its inner side which forms aconvenient receptacle for note paper and the like, and behind the doorsare drawers 40 and 41 of different sizes in which bedding or otherarticles may be placed. On the opposite side of the chair and on theouter side of the opposite arm llis a shelf 42, which is similar to theshelf 31, except that it is not jointed, but it is hung in the same wayand supported by outwardly swinging brackets43 which are adapted to lieflatwise-behind the shelf when not in use. When the shelf is in avertical position, as shown in Fig. 1,'it is held so by a button 44which is pivoted on the arm 11 and is adapted to overlap the edge of theshelf. When the shelf is raised and swung out and supported by thebrackets, it forms a side table which may be conveniently used. Behindthe shelf 42 is an outwardly and upwardly swinging door 45 which closesan opening through the chair arm and which is raised when the chair isto be-used as a sick chair, as hereinafter described.

Beneath the shelf 42 and in the body of the chair is a compartment whichis closed by outwardly swinging doors 46, one of which is provided onits inner side with a pocket 47 in which any desired articles may beplaced, while the other carries a towel rack 51 of common construction.The compartment is provided with a space 48 to receive a pitcher andwith a shelf 49 to support a bowl, while beneath the shelf is anothercompartment 50 in which any desired vesselv may be placed.

The seat of the chair is formed of a movable bed piece 52, adapted toslide on friction rollers 16 (Fig. 8) which has at one end a leaf 53adapted to turn up against the back 13 to help form a smooth back, asshown by dotted lines in Fig. 8, or to lie flat to help form a bed, asdescribed below, while at the front edge of the bed-piece 52 is a secondleaf 54 which normally hangs in front of the chair, as shown in Figs. 1and 2. To this leaf 54 is attached Ice a foot-piece 55 which may beturned outward at right angles to the leaf 54 so as to form a foot-rest,as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, or a foot-board for the bed, as shownin Fig. 8, or it may be turned up beneath the leaf 54 so as to lieflatwise against it and be entirely out of the way, as illustrated inFigs. 6 and 7. The foot-piece is hung in suitable hangers or brackets 56which are secured to the leaf 54, and the foot-piece has, near itshinged edge, a hole 57 into which projects aspring 58 which is securedto the leaf 54, and the pressure of the spring upon the wall of the holeor upon the face of the foot-rest serves to hold the latter in either ahorizontal or vertical position as desired.

Hinged at 60 to the chair front, near the seat and on opposite sides,are the horizontally swinging supports 59 which, at their free ends,have vertical legs 61 with casters 62 at their lower ends and thesesupports 59 are adapted to be swung out so as to lie parallel with eachother and extend forward from the chair body and thus support the bedformed of the bed-piece 52 and the leaves 53 and 54.

When the chair is to be converted into a bed the supports 59 are swungoutward and forward, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 8, and the leaf 54 israised and the bed piece 52 pulled forward, so that the leaves 54 and 53and the bed piece 52 are straightened out horizontally and a bed bottomis thus formed, which, when upholstered, needs no mattress, and on whichthe usual bedding may be placed, and a comfortable bed made. In thebed-piece 52 is a laterally movable slide 63 which when the bed-piece isin normal position registers with the door 45 and the slide may be movedby first raising the door. The slide 63is adapted to cover an opening 64in the chair which is adapted for use when the chair is used as a sickchair, and when the chair is upholstered, as shown in Fig. 12, theupholstering is protected by a rubber tube 65. WVhen a bed is formed ofthe chair the slide 63 may be drawn out of the chair arms and it is thenunnecessary to use the door 45. Beneath the opening is carried asuitable receptacle 66 which is held in a drawer 67, as shown clearly inFig. 8, and this drawer is adapted to be pulled outward from the frontof the chair but is normally hidden by the leaf 54. The receptacle 66may be removed also through the side of the chair by opening the doors46, as the back partition of the compartment is cut away for thepurpose, as shown at 66 in Fig. 9. This arrangement obviates thenecessity of raising the leaf 54 to remove the receptacle when theapparatus is in the form of a sick chair. Beneath the drawer 67 isanother drawer 68 which also pulls from the chair front and in which anynecessary articles may be stored, while behind the drawer 68 is a smallcompartment closed normally by a door 69 on the back portion of thechair body.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that the entire spaceof the chair is utilized for some practical purpose, that the variousportions of the chair are arranged in a very convenient manner and so asto fold together and leave the chair in such a shape that it looks likean ordinary chair, and thatthe chair may be upholstered in the usual wayso that it will make an ornamental article of furniture as well as avery practical and useful one.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination, with the chair havingsuitable arms, of an outwardly swinging shelf having end trunnionsadapted to move vertically in slideways in the arms, and outwardlyswinging brackets arranged behind the shelf and adapted to swing beneathand support the same, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the chair having suitable arms, of an outwardlyswinging jointed shelf having end trunnions adapted to move verticallyin slideways in one of the arms, and swinging brackets arranged behindthe shelf and adapted to support the shelf one of the brackets having aninclined top, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the chair, of a drawer arranged beneath'thechair seat, an outwardly moving slide in the seat above the drawer, anda door in one of the chair arms to register with the slide,substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the chair, of an extensible sliding bed pieceforming the chair seat and adapted to be extended horizontally, leaveshaving a hinged connection with the front and rear edges respectively ofthe bed piece and rigid swinging supports hinged to the front of thechair and adapted to be turned outward beneath the bed piece,substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the chair, of an extensible bed piece formingthe seat of the chair and provided with leaves which have normally avertical position in front of and at the rear of the chair, andoutwardly swinging supports hinged to the chair front and adapted tosustain the extended bed piece and leaves in a horizontal position,substantially asdescribed.

6. The combination, with the chair and the leaf hanging in frontthereof, of a foot-piece hinged to the lower edge of the leaf and havinga hole near its hinged edge, and a spring secured to the leaf andadapted to project into the said hole to hold the foot-pieceperpendicular to the leaf, the spring being also adapted for frictionalengagement with the face of the foot-piece to hold the latter parallelwith the leaf substantially as described.

CLARA NEWTON WONSON. DENNIS WILSON PALMER.

Witnesses:

BENJAMIN HOWARD WoNsoN, LAURA MOQUINN.

IIO

